Tag: Paso Robles Inn

A few weeks ago we had lunch with our friends Spencer and Margaret in Paso Robles, CA. Paso has the best of both worlds. You have just exited the most soporific road trips through the hills past Kettleman City. Unless I’m driving, I sleep through these hills.

Wake up! We’re going to Paso! Actually this is leaving Paso, so don’t be confused by where the mountains are. I just wanted you to see how boring it is.

El Paso del Robles, passage of the Oaks, is an old western town dividing the two worlds, the desert heat of the Kettleman City hills and the Tulare Lake Basin, and the Central Coast beginning with San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, and ending with Nipomo before you move into Santa Barbara County.

Paso Robles Inn, built in 1891.

Once you get to the Paso Robles Inn, you can begin to see the charm of Paso Robles. You still have the heat of the valley, but a half hour away, you have the coolness of the ocean breeze with the flavor of the Old Wild West. I took this picture on April 1st, an unusually cloudy day in Paso. I darkened the picture even a little more to add Leanne-style drama. I found that if you darken the layer too much, the sky pixelates. So I used the burn tool. I don’t like that quite as much because I don’t paint evenly, and I’m not sure if streaks are in style. I like them in my hair. The front of the Inn looks western and old, but the real beauty lies in the back, in my opinion. I darkened this one, too. Maybe I’m just in a dark mood. I’m sitting in the dark right now looking out at the Los Angeles skyline from my 14th floor picture window. But let’s get back to Paso.

just normal

with the California Golden touch

Back in 1891 – ok pretend

While we waited for Spencer and Margaret, we snapped some pictures. You can see the covered front porch. This is handy in the hot sun. It wasn’t so necessary on the day we were there. I tried a couple of things with this picture. I added a golden filter, then I made it black and white. Which one do you like best?

So the Inn is in the back. The restaurant is good. You get lots of food, but to me the real benefit is the setting. Unfortunately for us that day, there was a party out in the back. So we had to eat outside. We ate just as much either way.

You knew I’d sneak into the picture somewhere, didn’t you?

Beneath the beautiful fountain, they grew some of their vegetables. I doubt that they used very many of them. Maybe they had some others hidden away somewhere.

These rocks I left alone.

I darkened these front rocks.

I am always fascinated by flowing water and fish and bridges. Which rocks do you like best, darkened or unprocessed? It’s the perfect place for a wedding, and here I am already married. Maybe Vince will propose to me again. xoxox

Don’t they look famous with their sunglasses?

Our friends arrived, then lunch came with sweet potato fries (my current favorite thing), and all too quickly it was time to go back home again. With a full tummy, my mouth gaping open, snoring loudly, Vince’s bride slept her way through the boring trip home.